I’m not on the same page with you, @MSGRET. I only talk about point guards and the skills they need to succeed. I don’t care for all the posts pretending Nika has these skills — that’s Nika-hating. Folks say that because they don’t believe she can improve. I believe in her.
Fact Check:
Why don't you do your own research because Geno stated more than once that UConn is a better team with Nika on the floor because of her energy and defense. Just because you don't like Nika and always put her down doesn't make your statements true.Fact Check:
1) Geno has never stated that UCONN is a "much better team" with Nika on the floor. That just does make sense because in addition to being the worse shooter among the regular rotation players Nika is the backup PG behind Paige so that would mean the team plays better without Paige as the PG? But I can see why you would want to interpret things that way.
2) The calls by Geno for Nika to become a better shooter began in the pre-season of Nika's Freshman year as I recently posted.
If you are referring to the most recent public calls by Geno for Nika to improve offensively those calls began in a Mike Anthony article from June 22nd 2022- see link below.
UConn guard Nika Muhl working to refine offensive game
UConn women's basketball guard Nika Mühl is focused on developing her offensive game this summer after talking with coach Geno Auriemma.www.newstimes.com
Since Paige Bueckers tore her ACL on August 3rd of 2022 Geno must have pulled an @Carnac in asking Nika to improve because of the a future "loss of Paige" ?
The need for Nika to become a better offensive player were early in her UCONN tenure, has persisted, and has NOTHING to do with Paige . Nika began her UCONN tenure by making only 1 of her first 14 shots ( 8 of 14 were missed layups). The posters and supporters of the program (which includes Geno) that are pointing this out are not doing so because they hate Nika. We are doing this because it is necessary for the team to be more successful and we will continue to do so until the improvement is made. So please stop with the name calling and research your facts more carefully.
Yes and no. That was me in the January chats screaming for Nika to shoot her open pull ups. That was me stating in the forum that I didn't think she'd shot more than 2 or 3 pull ups all year. No, she doesn't have be Paige at the 2nd level. She does however have to take the shot and make a few. As I stated in February, just the threat of a pullup frees up her 1st level shots from the arc, opens up the lane for pocket passes, post entries, kickouts, and lay ups, and prevents the defense from clogging the middle on UConn's forwards. Double teaming of UConn's other guards. Why double team a player when you can play a zone, a box and one, a diamond and one, and other more effective "junk" defenses against a star player. Ask Jewel Loyd about Geno's defensive plans against her. By the way, one of Nika greatest strengths is ball movement, so there's no real need for improvement there.
You just had to mess up this fan favorite storyline with facts didn't you?Fact Check:
1) Geno has never stated that UCONN is a "much better team" with Nika on the floor. That just does make sense because in addition to being the worse shooter among the regular rotation players Nika is the backup PG behind Paige so that would mean the team plays better without Paige as the PG? But I can see why you would want to interpret things that way.
2) The calls by Geno for Nika to become a better shooter began in the pre-season of Nika's Freshman year as I recently posted.
If you are referring to the most recent public calls by Geno for Nika to improve offensively those calls began in a Mike Anthony article from June 22nd 2022- see link below.
UConn guard Nika Muhl working to refine offensive game
UConn women's basketball guard Nika Mühl is focused on developing her offensive game this summer after talking with coach Geno Auriemma.
Since Paige Bueckers tore her ACL on August 3rd of 2022 Geno must have pulled an @Carnac in asking Nika to improve because of the a future "loss of Paige" ?
The need for Nika to become a better offensive player were early in her UCONN tenure, has persisted, and has NOTHING to do with Paige . Nika began her UCONN tenure by making only 1 of her first 14 shots ( 8 of 14 were missed layups). The posters and supporters of the program (which includes Geno) that are pointing this out are not doing so because they hate Nika. We are doing this because it is necessary for the team to be more successful and we will continue to do so until the improvement is made. So please stop with the name calling and research your facts more carefully.
With all respect Sarge, I agree with the first part of your statement, not the second. @CocoHusky, as I, have been very critical of Nika, but to say either of us don't like her is a bridge too far.
Different. He said different. Different does not mean the same as better.
I apologize, I may have gone a bridge too far, but I'm tired of people with the negative vibes about her, her defense is intense as well as her energy. She has said that her shooting needs to improve and is working on it. She may have flaws, but Geno still played her because of the stuff she brings to the team. They make it sound like she shouldn't even be on the team unless it's to warm up the bench.
I get it. But that's on them. One of the reasons I stopped was it felt like beating a dead horse. Clearly she wasn't going to suddenly become Steve Nash or Kobie with her pull up overnight, so why continue? I'll say it for the hundredth time, for this year I'd be more than please to see her consistently shoot over high screens and finish her layups. Attempting the occasional pull up is gravy for me.
I did do my research. You claim that Geno said it several times. Cite 1 place where Geno said this?
Sarge, I'm tired too. I am perplexed why a UConn player gets so much animosity from UConn "Fans". Nika does what she does. Can she be better, yes of course, but the hatred on the BY is rarely seen. This surpasses what went on with Liv for 4 years. I said this before and I'll say it again, they should start their own thread: "Nika isn't good enough" where they could all hang out and others (such as yours truly) can easily bypass. Neither you nor I will get many thumbs up from... well, they know who they are.
You are probably perplexed because you perceive valid critique as hate and animosity.
I'm not going to address this past year -- but are you suggesting that UCONN was not a a better team with Nika on the floor in the 2nd half of her freshman year?Different. He said different. Different does not mean the same as better.
UConn a ‘different basketball team’ with Nika Muhl
Muhl hasn’t played since injuring her ankle in an NCAA first-round win over High Point...www.ctpost.com
I didn’t suggest anything. I merely pointed out what Auriemma did and didn’t say. I’m not a fan of people inserting their own words to make their argument.
Well we can use logic. This is a chat board and we can express opinion on what a coach meant. He certainly meant better in this case.
Geno is pretty good with the English Language. If he meant better he would have said better. He didn't say better he said "different" TWICE.
Hmmm. Either it's rarely seen on the BY, or its just like what went on with Liv for 4 years. You can't have it both ways. Pick one. It seems like there's some skewed perception going on here.
Pretty good with the English lanaguage- of course he is. But he is not expecting people to not use common sense when he makes a comment. When he has said he wants to beat Tenneesse's butt so bad I think we can use common sense and understand what he meant.
Common sense and accuracy would also demand that we don't misquote people with our own interpretations especially when the exact quote has been presented to you.
We're not misquoting people. Just using common sense to understand what they meant. Again I'll use Geno saying "Beat their butts" vs Tennessee. It's not a misquote to say he meant "win decisively" in some manner.
If it’s convenient and fits your narrative, do whatever you want.
Has nothing to do with convenience-- just using common sense.